Klein Collins shortstop C.J. Hinojosa, right, was taken in the 26th round by the Astros. His teammate Austin Dean, left, went much higher, No. 137 overall to the Marlins.

Klein Collins shortstop C.J. Hinojosa, right, was taken in the 26th round by the Astros. His teammate Austin Dean, left, went much higher, No. 137 overall to the Marlins.

Photo: Jerry Baker / For the Chronicle

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Austin Elkins, right, of Dallas Baptist University hit .344 in 56 games for the Patriots this season. The Astros made him their 19th-round pick, No. 579 overall.

Austin Elkins, right, of Dallas Baptist University hit .344 in 56 games for the Patriots this season. The Astros made him their 19th-round pick, No. 579 overall.

Photo: Jose Yau / Associated Press

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The Astros took catcher M.P. Cokinos in the 31st round Wednesday. After starring at Houston's Memorial High School, Cokinos played at the University of Houston before transferring to St. Mary's University. less

The Astros took catcher M.P. Cokinos in the 31st round Wednesday. After starring at Houston's Memorial High School, Cokinos played at the University of Houston before transferring to St. Mary's ... more

Photo: Bob Levey / For The Chronicle

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa attends a press conference in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa attends a press conference in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is surrounded by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is surrounded by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is greeted by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is greeted by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, signs an autograph on a ball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, signs an autograph on a ball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, top right, gestures in celebration upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, top right, gestures in celebration upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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The Astros made 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa the first-overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft.

The Astros made 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa the first-overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft.

Photo: Courtesy of Puerto Rico Academy

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Correa is the highest selection to come from Puerto Rico.

Correa is the highest selection to come from Puerto Rico.

Photo: Courtesy of Puerto Rico Academy

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The Astros selected 2012 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year Lance McCullers Jr. with the 41st pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. McCullers went 13-0 with a 0.18 ERA with 140 strikeouts and only 30 walks and 28 hits in 77 1/3 innings as a senior. less

The Astros selected 2012 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year Lance McCullers Jr. with the 41st pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. McCullers went 13-0 with a 0.18 ERA with 140 strikeouts and only 30 walks ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Lance McCullers Jr. poses with three-time MLB All-Star and current MLB Network broadcaster Sean Casey after receiving the Gatorade award. His father, Lance Sr., was a second-round selection of the Phillies in 1982. less

Lance McCullers Jr. poses with three-time MLB All-Star and current MLB Network broadcaster Sean Casey after receiving the Gatorade award. His father, Lance Sr., was a second-round selection of the Phillies in ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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With the first pick of the second round, the Astros took Florida shortstop Nolan Fontana, seen scoring against Vanderbilt during the Southeastern Conference tournament on May 24.

With the first pick of the second round, the Astros took Florida shortstop Nolan Fontana, seen scoring against Vanderbilt during the Southeastern Conference tournament on May 24.

Photo: Dave Martin / Associated Press

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Brady Rodgers pitched for Lamar Consolidated before going to Arizona State. A lifelong Astros fan, he was taken by the team in the third round.

Brady Rodgers pitched for Lamar Consolidated before going to Arizona State. A lifelong Astros fan, he was taken by the team in the third round.

Photo: Rob Schumacher / Rob Schumacher/The Republic

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Rio Ruiz of Bishop Amat High School in Southern California was the Astros fifth-round pick. He is coming off a health scare where he developed a blood clot but is healthy again. He is committed to USC but the Astros hope to sign this power-hitting third baseman. less

Rio Ruiz of Bishop Amat High School in Southern California was the Astros fifth-round pick. He is coming off a health scare where he developed a blood clot but is healthy again. He is committed to USC but the ... more

Photo: Larry Goren / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Andrew Aplin, left, was chosen in the fifth round by the Astros. The Arizona State outfielder is a California native and batted .313 for the Sun Devils this season.

Andrew Aplin, left, was chosen in the fifth round by the Astros. The Arizona State outfielder is a California native and batted .313 for the Sun Devils this season.

Photo: Deirdre Hamill / Deirdre Hamill/The Republic

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Florida's Preston Tucker was taken in the seventh round. Tucker is a 6 foot, 220-pound outfielder for the Gators. He was drafted in the 16th round last year by the Rockies and he improved his stock significantly this year. His biggest asset is power, and it is in evidence here in this two-run home run against Georgia Tech on June 2. less

Florida's Preston Tucker was taken in the seventh round. Tucker is a 6 foot, 220-pound outfielder for the Gators. He was drafted in the 16th round last year by the Rockies and he improved his stock ... more

Photo: Phil Sandlin / Associated Press

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Passionate Astros fans hit up Minute Maid Park on Monday.

Passionate Astros fans hit up Minute Maid Park on Monday.

Photo: Dave Rossman / For the Chronicle

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Astros merch is still fashionable.

Astros merch is still fashionable.

Photo: Dave Rossman / For the Chronicle

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The Astros hosted a draft party Monday at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros hosted a draft party Monday at Minute Maid Park.

Photo: Dave Rossman / For the Chronicle

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Fans look on as the Astros make the first pick.

Fans look on as the Astros make the first pick.

Photo: Dave Rossman / For the Chronicle

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No. 1 pick Correa signs with Astros, eager to put career in gear

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Shortly after signing his contract Thursday, Carlos Correa put on a No. 12 Astros jersey and vowed to reach the big leagues as quickly as possible.

“I want to be a leader,” Correa said. “I want to be the face of the franchise.”

Correa, the 17-year-old Puerto Rican shortstop taken Monday with the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft, went on a private tour of the Astros clubhouse and met with current players. He fielded ground balls for about 20 minutes and took about three-dozen swings — spraying line drives in every direction — during batting practice at Minute Maid Park.

He signed a few autographs and even managed a photo op with one of his baseball idols — countryman Carlos Beltran, who was in town with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Correa agreed to a signing bonus worth $4.8 million, according to a person familiar with the situation. The amount is considerably lower than the $7.2 million slot value for the pick under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, allowing the team flexibility in its efforts to sign other draft picks.

After returning home for his high school graduation Sunday, Correa will report Tuesday to the Astros’ rookie-level Gulf Coast affiliate in Kissimmee, Fla.

“This is a monumental day for us and for him and for the city of Houston,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said.

Correa said it was important to agree to a deal quickly so he could begin his professional career.

“I want to play baseball,” he said. “I want to play for the Houston Astros. I don’t want to lose time. I feel comfortable signing early.”

Ode to Alomar

Correa said he picked jersey No. 12 because it represented the year he was drafted and is a tribute to another countryman, Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar, who wore the same number.

Once on the field, Correa felt comfortable almost immediately. He took ground balls with ease at shortstop and just missed clearing the left- and right-center field walls with a few balls. He also had a professional first: a broken bat.

“No nerves at all,” Correa said.

His batting practice session drew several onlookers, including St. Louis players Beltran and Yadier Molina, also from Puerto Rico. When Correa was done hitting, he — along with father Carlos Sr., mother Sandy, brother Jean Carlos and sister Leibysand — posed for pictures with the two players.

National pride flows

Beltran said the selection of Correa with the top pick — he’s the first Puerto Rican to achieve the honor — was significant.

“I think Correa is now a hero in Puerto Rico being the first pick overall,” Beltran said. “There are going to be a lot of expectations on him, but I believe he will be able to handle it the right way.”

Correa has high expectations for himself, saying being the No. 1 pick is just the beginning.

“I want to get to the big league level the quickest I can,” he said. “I will work hard to be a great player, an impact player. My goal has always been to get to the Hall of Fame.”